標籤: Indianapolis

Last year, the Indianapolis Colts gave their fans reason to celebrate, both with a 7-1 start and by acquiring an NFL superstar in Sauce Gardner. Unfortunately, it all collapsed when breakout star quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a knee injury. The Colts went 1-8 the rest of the trip, so much so that they turned to 44-year-old Philip Rivers in desperate times.

Jones is still recovering from his concussion, but eventually, the Colts will be back at full strength. We saw how capable Shane Steichen’s offense was last season, and the Colts spent a lot of money keeping their group intact, retaining Jones and receiver Alec Pierce in free agency. Still, there might be a way to further weaponize the offense in Indianapolis.

Recently, ESPN’s Matt Bowen said the Colts are the “best team fit” for former All-Pro and Pro Bowler, free agent receiver Deebo Samuel.

The 30-year-old Samuel spent last season with the Commanders, where he appeared in 16 games and recorded 72 receptions for 727 yards and five touchdowns. Still, the Commanders didn’t utilize him as much as a rusher, where Samuel had only 17 rush attempts for 75 yards and one touchdown, both rushing totals his lowest since 2020.

Samuel’s last season with over 1,000 all-purpose yards came in 2023, yet he has only had one season with fewer than 800 yards from scrimmage. This could make him an ideal complementary weapon to Warren, Pierce, Downs and Westbrook-Ikhin.

RELATED: 2026 NFL QB rankings after Aaron Rodgers rejoins the Steelers

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

After an offseason of roster-building, the Indianapolis Colts are preparing for a new year. Before they open the season for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens on September 13, Colts general manager Chris Ballard will have several difficult decisions to make.

Currently, the Colts have a roster of 90 players. On August 26, they will have to reduce that number from 90 to 53 players. In doing so, the Colts may be forced to release a recent first-round pick.

Recently, Bleacher Report’s Mo Moton suggested that, instead of finding a trade partner, the Colts could release Anthony Richardson. This is what we saw them do with former Pro Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore, who still hasn’t found a new team.

Richardson would certainly prefer to be released rather than traded elsewhere. This will give the 23-year-old player a chance to choose his next team.

On the surface, it seems hard to believe that the Colts would have to release a player who was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Still, with the Colts likely considering very small trade returns for a player who will be a free agent at the end of the season, it would not be unprecedented for them to decide it would be best to release Richardson.

For now, Richardson is set to return as the backup to Daniel Jones, who signed a two-year, $88 million extension this offseason. The Colts also have 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard and 2025 undrafted free agent Seth Hennigan.

With Jones recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, the Colts may like the additional insurance provided by Richardson, and there’s always a chance he opts out in the preseason, leading to a trade offer from an interested team.

RELATED: 2026 NFL QB rankings after Aaron Rodgers rejoins the Steelers

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

While the 2025 season was a great one for the Indianapolis Colts, not so much for quarterback Anthony Richardson. A raw talent who needed more experience in the game, he didn’t even get a chance to touch the field while dealing with a broken orbital bone during pregame warmups.

It was a crushing blow not only for the former first-round pick, but also for the Colts, who have not indicated they are ready to part with the 23-year-old. But after declining to pick up Richardson’s fifth-year contract option, it’s clear the Colts are not ready to commit further to the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Recently, the Colts have been open to trading the cannon-armed, dual-threat QB. Those discussions were expected to heat up during the 2026 NFL Draft, when teams realized they wouldn’t be able to land the QB prospect they wanted. Yet, here we are, two weeks after the draft, and Richardson is still a member of the Colts.

Now, ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter has indicated that the team is not eager to move on from Richardson, and a trade could happen later in training camp or even during the season if another team’s QB suffers an injury.

We’ve seen teams take this approach before. With how often injuries can occur, and how quickly they can derail a season, there’s always the possibility that the Colts could benefit from another franchise’s downfall later on. For now, they have a backup QB with star potential, who could also help Indianapolis as Daniel Jones works his way back from a torn Achilles.

RELATED: 2026 NFL QB rankings: From the NFL’s worst starting QBs to the best

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

At times, the Indianapolis Colts looked to be one of the NFL’s best teams last season. Nevertheless, in the weeks before Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, the Colts began to slip. But that didn’t stop them from trading their first-round pick in 2026, as well as their top selection in 2027, in exchange for All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Now, as we approach next Thursday’s 2026 NFL Draft, the Colts find themselves in a tough situation, with no selection in the first round and no selection until No. 47. Indianapolis’ only other selection in the top 116 selections is in the third round at No. 78.

This makes it incredibly difficult to predict who will be available once the Colts reach time, but Indianapolis has taken a liking to some elite mid-round prospects. Now we also know who.

According to NFL insider Tony Pauline of Essential Sports, the Colts are “very high” on Caleb Ellers-Orr. The TCU linebacker’s stock is rising, and he is currently projected to land on Day 2, where the Colts have the 47th and 78th picks.

Pauline wrote, “Ellers-Orr is a pure off-ball linebacker whose game and draft stock have risen over the past nine months.” “Entering the season classified anywhere from the late round to the middle of the third day, Allarms-Orr turned in a stellar senior campaign and then stood out at pre-draft scouting events like the Senior Bowl and Combine. He has solidified himself as a second-day pick and could be among the early 60 picks.”

Pauline says the Broncos, Texans, Panthers and Vikings are also “very high” on Almers-Orr and they have all interviewed him, as have the Colts. Elmers-Orr has received strong marks for his athleticism and quickness, but negative marks for his football IQ, which can develop with NFL coaching.

RELATED: 2026 NFL mock draft: Trades that captured the first round of the NFL draft

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

Andrew Luck shocked the National Football League nearly seven years ago when he abruptly retired at the age of 29, walking away from his NFL career just weeks before the 2019 season. Fast forward to 2026, and one of his former teammates commented claiming to know what was causing it behind the scenes.

Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron, who played for the team from 2018–19, said on my soul Podcast that then-Colts general manager Chris Ballard had pressured Luck into retirement after issuing a mandate that he play despite chronic pain.

RELATED: Colts GM says team could make surprise decision on Anthony Richardson

The comments resulted in Luck, who rarely speaks publicly, sending an email to FOX 59 Indianapolis’ Mike Chappell to correct the record. He shared that he still has a strong relationship with Ballard to this day and that what Ebron said on the podcast is a lie.

“Chris and I had a wonderful partnership, especially through my decision to retire, and we remain close. Any notion of internal pressures influencing my decision is unfounded.”

Former Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck on rumors that pressure from then-GM Chris Ballard led him to retire

RELATED: Indianapolis Colts urged to trade for Pro Bowl edge rusher

It’s not entirely surprising that Ebron, who never even spent two full seasons as Luck’s teammate, might not have the most accurate information about what happened in Indianapolis. We’re also in an era where players are making podcast appearances more regularly or hosting their own, and viral clips bring attention and views to podcasts that they might not otherwise get.

Detailed reporting on Luck’s career in August 2025, primarily by Jack Keefer of The Athletic, revealed why he retired. The 6-foot-4 quarterback’s body had already begun to deteriorate rapidly, and the rigors of football and rehabilitation from all the injuries took a heavy toll on both him personally and his family. Now serving as general manager of his alma mater Stanford, Luck is happier and living the life he wants.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

When the Indianapolis Colts signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a multi-year extension, it was seen as a foregone conclusion that former first-round pick Anthony Richardson would be traded this offseason. Now it appears another option is on the table.

Speaking to reporters at the NFL’s annual league meetings this week, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said there is a “scenario” where the team keeps Richardson through the 2026 season.

RELATED: Indianapolis Colts urged to trade for Pro Bowl edge rusher

“There’s definitely a scenario there. He’s a good guy and he’s talented. I mean, I still want good for Anthony, man. I still think he’s got a lot of potential in him. He’s had a lot of bad luck, but I still think Anthony has a lot of potential and he’s maturing and growing.”

Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard if the team can keep Anthony Richardson

Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, appeared in only two games with 14 combined offensive snaps last season. In October, he fractured his orbital bone during pregame warmups when a resistance band he was using broke and hit him in the face.

At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the Colts gave Richardson’s agent permission to make a trade. Various reports have linked the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers to the dual-threat quarterback.

However, Kansas City has acquired quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets. Meanwhile, the Packers are among the teams interested in signing free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​to serve as a backup next season.

The trade market for Richardson may not be as strong as his representation expected, or the Indianapolis club may not be satisfied with the draft-pick compensation the club is offering for him. With Jones recovering from his Achilles tendon, it’s obviously possible that the Colts keep Richardson through training camp and see if he can be the starting option until Jones is ready.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Raider Nation has changed plans before — every new coaching staff brings a new identity, a new vocabulary, a new set of promises. Most of them had no special meaning. It’s different, and I mean that in a very specific way.

Clint Kubiak stood on the stage at the NFL Combine on Wednesday and confirmed what many had been speculating since Rob Leonard was hired as defensive coordinator. The Raiders are moving to a 3-4 base defense. Done. Officer. It changes everything from how you evaluate this roster, how you approach free agency, and most importantly for this week, how you look at edge rushers at the Combine.

This is why it matters right now.

In the 3-4, your edge rushers aren’t just pass rushers. They’re outside linebackers who have to break ground against the run, occasionally drop into coverage, and still get after the quarterback. This is a different job description. Max Crosby can do it all, and he’s one of the few players in the league who can really do it. But that man standing in front of him? That room is empty now. Leonard needs a bookend. This week’s combine is where the search begins in earnest.

Here are five edge rushers you should watch at the NFL Combine this week and read ahead of the NFL Draft.

reuben ben jr | miami

Ben is the most physically dominant pass rusher in this class and it’s not particularly close. Thick, powerful, plays with leverage and violent hands, and recorded 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss for a Miami team that went to the national championship game. The knock on that — and scouts have been talking about it this week — is arm’s length. The smaller weapons at 3-4 outside linebacker can cause problems at the point of attack against NFL tackles. See how he measures when the official numbers come out on Thursday. If the weapons are OK, he’s a top-five pick and will be gone before Las Vegas gets a sniff of him. If the numbers raise questions, there is also a scenario where he drops significantly. In a 3-4 scheme that asks its top players to be more than just designated pass rushers, Benn’s run defense is really a selling point. He makes headway better than anyone in this class.

David Bailey | texas tech

The pure speed-to-power combination that Bailey brings is the best in the draft. Fourteen and a half sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss last season. His first step is almost unfair – he’s off the ball before the tackle has even processed the snap. The question scouts are asking isn’t whether he can rush the passer. Obviously, he can. It’s whether he’s a three-down player in the scheme that calls for it. A 3-4 outside linebacker in Leonard’s system, which blends the influences of Brian Flores and Mike McDonald, needs to be reliable against the run before becoming a pass rush weapon. Watch Bailey in one-on-one drills and pay attention to how he uses his hands. Power rushers who can bend and redirect translate better into the 3-4. Bailey could be that guy.

Cassius Howell Texas A&M

Twenty-five sacks and 33 tackles for loss over the past three seasons. This is not a wrong impression. Howell doesn’t get as much attention as Ben and Bailey because he doesn’t fit the prototype (he’s not as big, not as tall), but the production is undeniable and the turn around the corner is legitimate. In a 3-4, a small but explosive outside linebacker who can run from a two-point stance is really valuable. McDonald’s defenses in Baltimore routinely used that type of player. Check out her 40 and explosive numbers. If he runs faster than expected, teams will quickly move him up the board. Raiders executives know the plan. They’ll know exactly what to look for with Howl.

TJ Parker | CLEMSON

2025 was tough for Parker. Clemson’s defense struggled throughout, and their numbers fell short of their excellent 2024 season. Eleven sacks and six forced fumbles in 2024 tells you what the ceiling looks like. The power in his game is real. He plays and performs better than any player in this class, makes hard tackles against the run and has advanced hand usage. For a 3-4 scheme that asks the outside linebackers to be strong on initial downs before running on third down, Parker profiles well. This collaboration is a chance for them to remind people what their 2024 tape looked like. See hand practice and face-to-face practice. Power rushers show themselves there.

TJ Parker is a monster!!! 🐯

Parker at Clemson (3 seasons):
– 127 total tackles
– 21.5 sacks 🤯
– 6 forced wobbles

Parker is a game changer in the 2026 draft pic.twitter.com/yCXgQ7l5rl

– SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) 25 February 2026

Arvel Reese | Ohio State

Daniel Jeremiah has Reese taken third overall in the entire draft class. third. Not third in lead gainers – third overall. Ohio State used him all over the field, off the ball at linebacker, as a rusher, as a spy. That versatility is exactly what Leonard’s hybrid 3-4 is going to demand. He’s fluid, explosive and plays with an instinct you can’t train. The challenge is projection. Because he put in so much work in Columbus, there are real questions about what his NFL role looks like. This week’s combined interview and situation workout will go a long way in answering this. If teams are convinced he can provide real value at 3-4, he may not fall out of the top five. Watch him closely in every practice, not just pass rush practice.

The 3-4 announcement changes the entire calculus for how this Raiders draft class is evaluated. It’s no longer just about finding guys who can rush the pass. Leonard needs athletes who can play the run, hold the point of attack and still be a nightmare for quarterbacks on third down. This week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, that search is officially underway.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen